Cursed with Oblivion

EDENBRIDGE - an interview with the band leader, Lanvall.

Edenbridge is one of few metal bands from Austria that are known worldwide. In september 2000 they released their debut album entitled "Sunrise In Eden." The lush melodies together with the vocals of Sabine Edelsbacher made Edenbridge stand out from other bands in this genre. The highlights of the album were the two ballads: "Forever Shine On" and "Take Me Back," the title track, "Holy Fire" and the last song, the already mentioned "My Last Step Beyond." In november 2001 the band's second album, "Arcana" came out. It was a more mature release with more polished compositions and more controlled vocals from Sabine. Catchy melodies are again what stands out on this album. The album contains also the best Edenbridge song so far - "The Palace."

This is my interview with Edenbridge mainman, Lanvall:

- Edenbridge started in 1998. Before that time you had already released three solo albums. What kind of music was it and what are the similarities between your solo projects and Edenbridge music?

Lanvall: I released 3 solo albums between 1994 and 1997 on a small German label called WMMS. The music was guitar-orientated symphonic rock primarily instrumental with a big church choir on the 2nd and the 3rd album. It went a bit in the direction of Mike Oldfield but rockier. Edenbridge is quite different, cause it´s based on the vocals of Sabine. The similarity is my lead guitar playing, although I´m a lot better now (ha,ha). My solo project lays on ice at the moment cause I´m totally busy with Edenbridge.

- What made you decide to leave your solo career for some time and start a new band?

Lanvall: The solo deal ran out in 1997 and I wanted to bring the band project forward. We had the album together and decided to record it on a self-finance basis. 2 weeks after sending the CD´s out we had the deal with Massacre Records. The other point was that I did 3 instrumental albums and I wanted to do something different at that point. I couldn´t imagine that it would be that successful although I hoped for it.

- Was Sabine into metal music before Edenbridge was started? What are her vocal influences? She mentions "Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush as her favourite song. Was Kate Bush also an inspiration?

Lanvall: Sabine wasn´t into metal when I met her for the first time. But now she likes a lot of bands in the melodic metal genre. Her main influences concerning the vocals are Celine Dion and Sarah Brightman. Maybe that´s the reason why her vocals are totally different from anything in the metal scene. Kate Bush wasn´t a big influence, although "Wuthering heights" is one of her favorite songs.

- Dreams of Sanity are one of the most famous Austrian metal bands. Also with female vocals, a bit progressive approach and fantasy-like lyrics. Were they any influence on you when you started the band?

Lanvall: Now, absolutely not. I heard them for the first time, when I was guest reviewer in Metal Hammer. I got their last CD and I liked it. But in general I´m not a big fan of Gothic Music cause it´s too boring for me.

- Is there a metal scene in Austria? Are there any Austrian bands you'd like to recommend?

Lanvall: There´s no real scene, although there are a lot of bands, but very few are good enough to get accepted in foreign countries. Most of the bands play black or death metal. There´s a new band called "Visions of Atlantis". They just recorded their first album and they´re good friends of us. The music goes in the Nightwish direction with a female and a male voice.

- What do you think are the biggest differences between Edenbridge's debut album, "Sunrise In Eden" and the second one, "Arcana?"

Lanvall: The production is much better. We had a much more higher budget and that can be clearly heard. We decided not only to mix it in the House of Audio Studios in Germany but also to record it there. I also think that we made a big step in the songwriting process but that should be normal anyway. All in all it is a constant progress.

- You are the authour of all the music and lyrics. Is it difficult to write songs that later are sung by a woman? Do you also write vocal melodies for Sabine?

Lanvall: It isn´t difficult for me to write the vocal lines for Sabine, cause I know her voice very well. When I sing the vocal lines for myself they´re always fitting for Sabine, although she sings it 2 to 3 octaves higher (ha,ha).

- Many bands take their inspiration from books or films. Is this also the case with Edenbridge?

Lanvall: Yes, definitely. I´m a big "Star Trek" fan, where I derive a lot of inspiration. I also like all kinds of movies as long as they´re good.

- What do you think is the best Edenbridge song?

Lanvall: That´s a difficult question, cause they´re all like children to me. But I would say, concerning both albums it is "Arcana". But this will change after the next album of course.

- What was your first instrument: keyboards or guitar?

Lanvall: My first instrument was recorder when I was 6 years old. At the age of 7 I started playing piano and took classical lessons for 12 years. Then I learned bass by myself and shortly after guitar. Then I went to the American Institute of Music in Vienna (this school doesn´t exist anymore) and studied Rock guitar.

- You played recently in Korea a double headliner gig with Sinergy. A band with also a female singer, though their music is quite different from the Edenbridge's style. What do you think of this band and how was this experience?

Lanvall: First of all, Korea was one of the best weeks in my life. We played at the Busan Rock Festival in front of 20.000 people, all screaming and raising their arms. It was unbelievable. Everyone treated us as if we were rock stars (ha,ha). We had a lot of time for sightseeing and meeting a lot of fans and I´ve never been to a country before, where people were so kind and warm-hearty. Then we had the show with Sinergy in Seoul and it was the best club-gig we ever played. It was hot like hell and the people totally freaked out. Sinergy is a fantastic band and we had a great relation to them. We had a lot of fun after the show partying in a hotel room. Although they´re quite different to our style, we´re fitting together very well, so I hope we can play additional concerts in the future.

- What do you prefer: "Star Wars" or "Lord Of The Rings"?

Lanvall: I love both. I´ve seen the old 3 parts of "Star Wars" so many times and I saw "Lord of the rings" twice, one time in German and then in English.

- What do you do in you free time? What are your hobbies?

Lanvall: Well, I´m happy that I could have made my hobby to my job, so music is dominating my day. Apart from that I´m a big motorsport-fan. Formula 1, formula 3000 and the American Champ-Car Series. I like skiing, biking, swimming and I love to be somewhere where´s a sea.

- What is the last album (not necessarily metal) that you bought? Do you often go to metal concerts?

Lanvall: Yesterday I bought the new Andre Andersen solo album. I´ve been to so many concerts in the past, especially at the end of the 80´s and beginning of the 90´s. Meanwhile I don´t go to so many concerts.

- Thanks a lot for answering the questions and I wish you lots of good luck with the band and your music.

Lanvall: Thanks a lot for the interview, Marta

21 june 2002.